The iPhone 12 series offers top-notch design, great connectivity and an improved Night mode camera to the country’s most loved phone.
Apple’s iPhone 12 series is a hard-edged phone for a hard year. It offers a solid feel, great screens, improved low-light performance and better network connectivity to America’s most popular smartphone. One of the four new iPhones will be worth your investment if you own an iPhone older than one year. It is not difficult to choose the right one.
I’m 5G guy and Apple spoke a lot about 5G during the iPhone 12 launch. Although the iPhone 12 is the best 5G smartphone, Verizon’s as well as AT&T’s so-called “nationwide” 5G are not worth your time. T-Mobile’s 5G mid-band does offer better performance. However, T-Mobile doesn’t have a map to help users find that system. I will tell you that the iPhone 12 series increases 4G performance in a significant way, which I will detail shortly.
The iPhone 12 and 12 mini appear very similar. Apple’s specifications sheets show that they are identical, except for the screen size and battery size. If all things are equal, I believe that an iPhone slightly cheaper and smaller than the iPhone 6 or 8 models is a winner. In anticipation of the mini, we’ll hold off on the Editors’ Choice award. We’ll reconsider if the mini is a failure.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max and Pro Max offer more advanced features for photo enthusiasts, including telephoto lenses and a Night Portrait mode, Dolby Vision processing, Raw photo handling, and better Dolby Vision handling. The extra money is worth it for photographers, but not for everyone. The Editors’ Choice Award for Camera Phones goes to the iPhone 12 Pro because it packs so much amazing image capability into a small phone. With its 6.7-inch display, the Pro Max is too big for most people.
The iPhone 12 family the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Mini and the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The iPhone 12 and 12 Mini are available in white, black, red, green, red, and blue. The blue model I received was a beautiful, rich navy. The backs of the phones are smooth and shiny, which attract fingerprints but not as much as you might expect. The body has a matte metal border around its edges in a similar blue as the back. There are also some antenna windows made of black plastic and the usual buttons on the side. The camera module is a square-shaped piece that sticks out from the back of your phone. If you drop it, it will cause serious damage.
The 12 Pro Max and 12 Pro Max are available in blue, gold or gray. I chose a gray one. These have a matte back with a dark, but shiny, stainless steel band at the edges. The matte back is pleasant to touch and does not attract fingerprints. The edge band is not able to attract fingerprints.
The iPhone 12 is available in five appealing glossy colors.
It’s difficult to distinguish the 12 Pro and the 12 Pro from the front. The 12 mini and Pro Max have different sizes. The phones have the large notch at their tops that Apple uses for Face ID. They also have very small bezels surrounding their gorgeous screens. These phones are smaller than the iPhone 11, but much wider than the iPhone 8 series with 0.29 by 5.78 and 2.82 inches. The phones are small for flagship smartphones, but they feel more like an iPhone 6 or 7. The iPhone 12 Pro weighs in at 6.66 versus 5.78 ounces. Both are lighter than 11 but heavier than 8.
The glowing, saturated OLED screens that have been the norm for high-end smartphones over the last few years have become the new iPhones. They are 5.4 inches in size and measure 2,340x 1,080 pixels for iPhone 12 mini, 6.1 inches for iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, and 2,532x 1,170 pixels respectively for iPhone 12 and 12 Pro. The iPhone 12 Pro Max’s screen measures 6.7 inches and 2,778x 1,284 pixels. They are all more detailed and sharper than their iPhone 11 predecessors. The 12 and 12 Pro have about the same resolution as 11 Pro.
The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro feature Apple’s A14 processor, which runs at 3GHz. It is paired with 4GB or 6GB RAM. They scored the identical benchmarking scores: 1,599 in Geekbench single-core; 4,006 Geekbench Multicore; approximately 9,350 Geekbench Compute; and 600 in Basemark Web. This is a 16% increase over the iPhone 11 series in Geekbench, and a similar speed-up for Web browsing. Geekbench Compute saw a remarkable 48% increase in computing power.
Apple phones don’t feel slow once they are launched. Future-proofing is more important than any other aspect of the processor speed. It prepares for applications that will be three to four years in the future. Apple generally ends support for new iOS versions after five or four years because of new CPUs. The iPhone 12 is faster than the iPhone 11, but I’d still choose it over the iPhone 11 for other reasons.
The 12, and 12 Pro have 2,815mAh batteries. This is smaller than the iPhone 11’s 3,110mAh battery, but these iPhones can last longer thanks to the OLED screens and the more efficient A14 processor. The battery of the 12 mini is smaller than that of the 12 Pro Max, while the 12 Pro Max has a larger one.
Apple didn’t include a power adapter with the box this year. The iPhones can charge at 20 watts. They can take that wattage at 9v and 2.22a. The old iPhone charger won’t charge the new iPhone at this speed so you will need a new charger. The Anker Nano 20W ($19.99) was a cute little charger that charged my iPhone 12 to 20% in ten minutes, 58% in thirty minutes, and 100% within 100 minutes.
Apple’s MagSafe charger ($39), is a magnetic disk that can be inserted onto the backside of the phone. MagSafe claims to be capable of charging at 15W. It turns out, MacRumors claims MagSafe charges at up to 15W. The 20W Anker Nano charged at 11% and 52% respectively in 10 minutes. However, when I plugged in a 22W Samsung charger it gave me only 9% and took me 80 minutes to reach 50%.
Although the battery performance of the iPhone 12 was slightly different, they were all comparable to other flagship smartphones. The iPhone 12 was able to stream video on Wi-Fi for 10 hours and 8 mins. The iPhone 12 Pro managed 12 hours and 34 mins.
More than just 5G
The iPhone 12 family uses Qualcomm X55 modems for all four members. This is the first all-Qualcomm iPhone line since the 6S. After years of inconsistent performance, I’m glad to report that iPhones have returned to the top of the Android phone market in terms of network performance.
The iPhone 12 series comes with a single SIM slot and software support to add a second line via an eSIM. It works well with voice quality, including the best EVS voice codec, WiFi calling and solid Bluetooth 5.0.
You’ll notice a significant increase in data speeds when you are in low-signal areas if you own an iPhone 11 or older. This is due to 4×4 MIMO. This feature is available in the iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone XS but not in earlier iPhones, such as the iPhone 11R, XR and iPhone 11. Comparing the iPhone 11 and 12 devices in weak-signal areas using LTE-only mode on T-Mobile revealed a significant difference.
The iPhone 11 failed to pass a speed test in one area that was very weak, scoring 6 to 9Mbps, while the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro did well. Although it isn’t as fast as the iPhone 11, it beats the iPhone 11’s inability to perform.
T-Mobile’s mid-band 5G is shown on the iPhone 12 (left); TMobile 4G with 4×4 Multi-hop on the iPhone 12 Pro, (middle); the iPhone 11 (right), which has neither.
The iPhone 11 experienced a weak signal in an area where 4G was congested. However, the iPhone 12 on LTE saw 44 to 48Mbps of downtime.
Wi-Fi performance seems more consistent, too. The weak-signal Wi-Fi test was conducted against a 500Mbps fibre connection. Both the iPhone 11 (and 12) reached 72Mbps while the 12 could hold it. This makes a big difference. The iPhone series is also the first iPhones that support Wi-Fi 6. It even offers a Wi-Fi 6 connection if the phone’s in hotspot mode. Wi-Fi 6 is important when we can go back to work and to coffee shops, because it reduces interference. It may also be helpful when the iPhone is used as a hotspot using a super-fast 5G millimeter wave connection.
These phones include Apple’s perplexing “ultrawideband” technology. This is not to be confused with Verizon’s ultra-wideband 5G which is completely different. Apple’s UWB wireless system has no real purpose. It is supposed to allow two devices to determine their positions relative to each other. Apple claims it can do file sharing to nearby devices and smart home items, but I have found it almost pointless since its debut last year.
Although you’ll see a 5G icon on your screen, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is any significant improvement in performance.
The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro were tested against the Samsung Galaxy Note20 and the iPhone 11 on T-Mobile and Verizon networks. Both the 12 and 12 Pro have the same Qualcomm X55 modems as well as the same Qualcomm and USI antennas. They also have the same network performance.
Verizon’s “nationwide” 5G averaged 84.6Mbps in places where my iPhone 11 on LTE received 93.7Mbps and my Galaxy Note on LTE received 117Mbps. This is in line with our tests on the Google Pixel5 where we received lower speeds on Verizon’s “nationwide” 5G than on 4G. Similar issues were observed with AT&T’s 5G network. Although the carriers don’t lie about 5G, they are using the 5G Encoding System. They have created a 5G system with absolutely no immediate consumer benefit.
T-Mobile is an exception. T-Mobile’s 5G mid-band system will immediately improve performance if you are in an area with it. This is rapidly expanding across the country. My iPhone 12 experienced 266Mbps less on T-Mobile 5G than the Galaxy Note’s 261Mbps.
T-Mobile 5G was the most noticeable difference. It worked in an area with poor 4G speeds. Oh my goodness. The iPhone 11 without 4x4MIMO was able to get 2.8Mbps down, while the iPhone 12 Pro with LTE mode and 4x4MIMO got 48Mbps, and the iPhone 12 Pro with mid-band 5G got 261Mbps.
Verizon’s 5G network is extremely fast, with a short-range and ultra-wideband band, but it has limited coverage. On average, we got 554Mbps less than the iPhone 12 Pro, and 783Mbps less on the Galaxy Note with VerizonUWB. When signal was very good, the difference increased. I peaked at 1.7Gbps less on the Galaxy Note and only 875Mbps on the iPhone. The difference in speed between the two platforms could be due to the code used for speed testing or another feature in the OS. Both are astonishingly fast.
The Ultra-wideband range of the iPhones doesn’t differ from that of the Galaxy Note. However, the way the operating system handled the edges of the coverage area was quite different. The difference in the time they dropped 5G signal was only about 10 feet. However, the Samsung would take a bit longer to drop to LTE after it established a connection to get up to 5G again.
Camera: Night Mode Starts to Shine
I’m not a camera guy. Yes, I have reviewed many phones and many phone cameras. However, I admire many other reviewers who have a better understanding of “naturalism”. I like sharp, saturated photos and not grainy. In this regard, I am probably closer to the average smartphone user than the semi-professional or obsessed Instagram photographer. This is what the real camera guy has to share about the iPhone 12 and which one is best for photographers . Here’s what I have to say about the cameras.
New iPhones come with sets of 12-megapixel cameras. Each iPhone 12 and 12 mini have 12-megapixel front-facing cameras, as well as standard and wide-angle 12-megapixel cameras. The 12 Pro has a 12-megapixel 2x zoom, a LiDAR scanner and the 12 Pro Max has 2.5x zoom.
Zoom in and you’ll see that the iPhone 12 Pro wins. It has a dedicated zoom lens. The 2x zoom of the 12 Pro gives you clarity that is impossible with the iPhone 12 or iPhone 11’s digital zoom, and oddly it even works better than the Galaxy Note 20. The Galaxy is the best. The Note 20 features a 5x optical zoom lens. At 5x, all iPhones blur but the Note 20 is razor-sharp.
Night Mode is what makes the difference. The iPhone 12 series supports Night Mode on its front cameras, while the iPhone 11 does not. The 12 Pro Max and 12 Pro Max have LiDAR sensors that improve focus in low light. They also allow Night mode to capture bokeh portraits.
Night Mode is not always necessary. Images taken with the iPhone 11 or 12 were grainy. However, the iPhone 12’s images were brighter and clearer when I turned it off.
Night Portrait Mode is also available on the 12 Pro. This blurs out the background for night shots. The photo was more dramatic when I used Night Portrait mode with the 12 Pro. This image was given a professional look by the iPhone 12 Pro’s Night Portrait Mode (far right).
The iPhone 12 has really great cameras. The 12 series will make your old phone look better in low light. The 12 Pro has additional capabilities, including a 2x zoom that is sharper and Night Portrait mode that is truly dramatic.
Despite this, I am confident that the iPhone is the best choice for professional photographers, YouTubers, and all other visual artists. Although they aren’t the “most people”, they are a culturally dominant force.
Do You Need to Upgrade to the iPhone 12
The iPhone 12’s final verdict boils down to these two points: If you are looking for better low-light capabilities or are frustrated by slow Internet speeds in congested areas, then the iPhone 12 is an improvement on previous iPhone models.
It is remarkable to see the difference in low-light camera quality between the iPhone 12 compared to anything prior to the iPhone 11. The jump from 2×2 MIMO and 4×4 MIMO significantly improves connectivity performance in areas where signals are congested or blocked. 5G is available on T-Mobile. However, even if you are not on T-Mobile 5G will be a benefit.
Apple’s iPhone 13 series was announced at an event in September 2021. There were four options: the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
You can see how each iPhone 13 model compares to one another in. But here, we will be comparing the iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max to their predecessors, which are the iPhone 12 Pro Max and 12 Pro Max.
Design
iPhone 13 Pro: 146.7×71.5x765mm, 204g
iPhone 12 Pro: 146.7×71.5×7.4mm, 185g
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.65mm, 240g
iPhone 12 Pro Max: 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4mm, 228g
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max have a similar design as the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max. They feature a flat frame and frosted glass rear with three lenses in the top left corner. MagSafe Magnets are below the surface.
All devices feature a frame made of polished stainless steel and all display a notch at top with Face ID. However, the notch on the iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max is smaller, making it one of the significant design differences between 2020 and 2021 models.
All 13 Pro models, and 12 Pro models, can be charged via Lightning. There is no wall plug included in the box. All models are IP68 dust and water-resistant.
Display
iPhone 13 Pro: 6.1 inch, 2532×1170, 460ppi. 1200nits. 10-120Hz
iPhone 12 Pro: 6.1 inch, 2532×1170, 460ppi and 1200nits
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 6.7-inch, 2778 x 1284, 458ppi, 1200nits, 10-120Hz
iPhone 12 Pro Max: 6.7-inch, 2778 x 1284, 458ppi, 1200nits
Apple iPhone 13 Pro features a 6.1 inch Super XDR Retina screen with a 2532 x 170-pixel resolution and a pixel density of 460ppi. ProMotion technology is also available on the iPhone 13 Pro. It offers a 120Hz adaptive refreshing rate, similar to Apple’s new iPad Pros.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max features a 6.7 inch Super XDR Retina screen with a resolution of 2778 x 1284 pixels for a pixel density of 458ppi.
The Apple iPhone 12 Pro features a 6.1-inch Super XDR Retina screen with a 2532 x 170-pixel resolution. It has a pixel density (460ppi) and a standard 60Hz refresh speed.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max features a 6.7 inch Super XDR Retina screen with a resolution of 2778 x 1284 pixels for a pixel density of 458ppi. It also has a 60Hz refresh rate.
Hardware and specifications
iPhone 13 Pro: A15 Chip, 5G, 128/256/512GB/1TB Wireless Charging and MagSafe
iPhone 12 Pro: A14 chip (5G), 128/256/512GB/1TB wireless charging, MagSafe
iPhone 13 Pro Max: A15 Chip, 5G, 128/256/512GB Wireless Charging and MagSafe
iPhone 12 Pro Max: A14 Chip, 5G, 128/256/512GB Wireless Charging and MagSafe
Both the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max run on the A15 chips with the next-generation Neural Engine, and both have a five-core GPU. Both are available in 128GB or 256GB storage options. They also offer wireless charging as well as MagSafe charging.
The A13 chip is under the hood of the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro Max. It includes the fourth-generation Neural engine and four-core GPU. You can choose from 128GB,256GB or 512GB storage options. There is no 1TB option. However, both models offer wireless charging and the MagSafe feature.
Cameras
iPhone 13 Pro/13 Max: Triple rear, 6x zoom range, Night Mode and Cinematic Video mode. Photographic Styles, Macro.
iPhone 12 Pro: Triple rear, 4x optical zoom range, Night Mode
iPhone 12 Pro Max: Triple rear camera, 5x visual zoom range, Night Mode
Three camera lenses are on the backs of each of the four iPhone Pro models being compared. However, all models have a 12-megapixel main wide sensor; 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor; and 12-megapixel telephoto sensor. Their specifications vary.
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max camera systems include three new lenses: an f/1.5 aperture main sensors, an f/1.8 ultra-wide sensor, and an f/2.8 Telephoto lens with a 6x optical zoom range.
The main lens and ultra-wide angle lenses both feature sensor-shift optical imaging stabilisation. There are also a variety of new features such as Cinematic Video mode and Photography Styles. Night mode portraits and macro photography will be added soon.
The Apple iPhone 12 Pro comprises a f/1.6 main sensor, an ultra-wide sensor (f/2.4), and a telephoto sensor (f/2.0) with a 4x optical zoom range. Although this model doesn’t have sensor-shift optical stability, it does offer Night mode.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max features the same primary sensor and ultra-wide sensor as the iPhone 12 Pro, but has a different telephoto sensor that offers an f/2.2 aperture with a 5x optical zoom range and an additional telephoto sensor.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max has the same telephoto lens that the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max but the main wide-angle lens has a aperture of f/1.6, just like the iPhone 12 Pro. The main sensor has sensor-shift optical imaging stabilisation.
Each model has a 12-megapixel TrueDepth front camera with Night Mode and Deep Fusion. The notch on the iPhone 13 models is smaller, however.
Conclusion
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and 13 Pro Max have a similar design to the iPhone 12 Pro Max and 12 Pro Max. However, the new models have a smaller notch at the top of their display. This is the first time this has happened since 2017’s iPhone X .
The iPhone 13 Pro models have more powerful hardware, faster displays, and battery improvements. Additional camera features and improvements on the iPhone 13 Pro models include a completely new system.
Although the notch is smaller, it may still be enough to convince you to upgrade. However, the 12 Pro Max and 12 Pro Max are powerful devices worth your consideration if you have the budget and can afford them.
Trade-in your old phones with NIX and leave with a brand new phone.
Remember, the NIX magic number is zero!! How close can you get? Come in and see.
Recycle your old phone with NIX and sign-up to our Premium Membership for even better prices and saving at NIX.
MEGA TIP: NIX Premium Members can trade in multiple devices at once to really reduce the price of the new phone.
